I'll be reading from the same prompt book Charles Dickens wrote for himself when he did readings of "A Christmas Carol." I've heard it said he never did it the same way twice; perhaps he did it the same way I'm doing it. Just the once.

I will be accompanied by a harpist. She will be very confused. Come and watch her face.

In no surprise to anyone, Republican candidates have called for inaction and a continued free hand for hate crimes and mentally disturbed people in their pursuits against students and civilians of all ages. "Stuff happens," said one, and others said it was too soon to discuss the events; the general feeling was it was still too soon to discuss the Sandy Hook murders three years ago, or even the harassment of that poor Mr. Booth in 1865.

The date of the next senseless massacre is unknown but will not be a surprise. There have been 294 mass executions in the past year.